They say

CNY is never complete without gambling,

be it Black Jack or Cho Tai Ti or Mahjong or Russian Poker or whatever you can play with that deck of cards lying on the table...

True.

**

Today is the fifth day of the Year of the Ox. I have yet to play Black Jack this year, neither did I play last year. I was away the year before.

"C'mon, it's a once-a-year affair. We play small anyway. You see, all your cousins are playing too..."

I pondered. CNY is never complete without gambling.

I shrugged. "No, thank you," I replied, "I do not fancy gambling."

**

I used to enjoy gambling when I was kid. I had the perception that those who gambled during CNY were matured and cool people. So I would join my relatives at the dining table, using my angpow money as my capital.

It was fun and loud during my first attempt. I won.

Things changed the next year. It was excruciating to watch my money fly one Ringgit by one Ringgit. I lost RM3. My cousins won. Being a kiasu person, I cried. I complained. I was 10 years old then. It was there and then when I was given the understanding that in every game, there will always be a winner and a looser. This round I was the looser.

I never gambled from then on. Probably I did but I don't remember. But even if I did, the moment I start loosing, I run to avoid further loss.

**

My fundamental personality has not changed. I'm an introvert, and I think I always have been. I'm not spontaneous and I've a hard time taking the initiative to do something. I'm slightly better at that now than I was before, but in essence I haven't changed. I no longer exhibit my horridly spiteful temper, but that part of me is still in there somewhere. I'm still cautious; but a little more calculative and less of a risk-taker.

A cousin dinner awaits. There will Not be any gambling later. I am sure of it. Even if there is, I wouldn't gamble.

After all, I do not like taking risks, especially those that involve finance.

And I begin to wonder, why did I take Business Studies in the first place?

*sigh*

I'm off.

Happy CNY of the Ox!

Dinner's over. The stomach's full and satisfied.

Final cleaning done. Phew

The rat will be gone in approximately 2 hours time.

Now, here's wishing you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year of the Earth Ox, people. New year, new hope, new aspirations...

Gong Hei Fatt Tai Choy.

See you in the year of the Ox!

"Prosperity is not measured by the wealth you have but the generosity you possess." -Quoted from AmBank's CNY Card. Nice message, huh. *cough cough*

By-elections

Sometimes I just wish that it is my voting parliamentary constituency which is having its by-election now since it may bring a lot of meaning to Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. IF Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh wins tonight, this can add to Datuk Seri Najib Razak's credentials as the next prime minister. On the other hand, if Mohd. Abdul Wahid Endut wins, this will drive the Pakatan Rakyat alliance closer to national power.

I am not cursing anyone to die or wanting the current MP to resign, but I just love it when you have the whole nation looking your way as if their fate is in your hands. Isn't it nice when everyone bows to your greatness....

Today is the Kuala Terengganu by-election. A once quiet place is now the centre of all flurry activities especially in the last 10 days. It has became the melting pot for all the country's political top-guns, be it from the Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, YB Lim Kit Siang, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Tok Guru Nik Aziz and etc were all in Kuala Terengganu last week. I am confident if I was in Kuala Terengganu last week, roaming around the town especially the modest ChinaTown, I bet you I'd be able to meet at least one cheftain.

General elections are different. It covers the whole country. The political top-guns who have to do little campaigning in their respective constituencies since they are assured of winning already would be helping out to campaign for their hopeful counterparts which are many too. So there you have it, the chances of meeting them is few too. Besides that, nobody bows at you too except for the candidates in your constituency.

I know that Sarawak is due to have its state elections very soon- latest by 2011. Very soon, we will be the talk of the country and all eyes will be on us especially since PKR chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has made a declaration of intent on taking power in the next Sarawak elections. Then we will see all the top-guns especially those from Pakatan Rakyat flying to Sarawak, trying to win our hearts. But the difference between the coming state election and this KT by-election is that the state election covers the whole state, whereby the KT by-election covers the constituency of Kuala Terengganu only. Thus, the chances of me meeting a top-gun would be lower as these West Malaysia Pakatan Rakyat top-guns would be moving around the state. Maybe I'd be able to hear YB Lim Kit Siang speak in life if I stay put at a DAP ceramah from the start of it till the end.

Okay, so call me an attention-whore.

Anyways, happy voting, voters of KT. Vote wisely, which I believe all of you would...

Buh-bye for now...

"Good value always triumphs over bad. Good guys always win against the bad."

The loaf of bread

Granny just came back from Singapore.

She bought a loaf of bread for me. :)

"A LOAF OF BREAD??"

"Yes. A loaf of bread."

It is:

THIS loaf of bread

Yes, This loaf of bread is NOT the loaf of bread that you can find in Kuching city.

This loaf of bread was air flown from Singapore via JB.

This loaf of bread does NOT contain Trans Fat and is Home-Baked FRESH from Singapore.

And This loaf of bread is The Gardenia Fruit and Nut Loaf.

-The Gardenia Fruit & Nut Loaf compliments from Granny.-

Serving per package: 10

So there are 10 pieces of Gardenia Fruit & Nut bread in This loaf.

$4.20
Use By 09 JAN

So This loaf of bread costs $4.20 which does NOT equate to RM4.20 because Granny bought it in Singapore. It costs S$4.20= RM10.08 (taking RM2.40=S$1 as the exchange rate.)

So This Loaf of bread costs about RM10.08. which works out to be RM1.00 per piece.

Wait a minute, did I just see a "USE BY 09 Jan". Hmmm, This loaf of bread must be USED BY 09 Jan.
Do we use bread in Singapore?
I don't know because I'm used to seeing a "Best Before" on perishable items.

Anyway, PRESENTING........:

The RM1.00 piece of bread.

But it is not your ordinary piece of bread you use for your "roti kahwin".

It is the Gardenia Fruit & Nuts piece of bread, home-baked freshly from Singapore.



And It smells SO GOOD.

Likewise, It tastes as Good as it smells, though it does not Feel as nice as sitting in a Hummer limousine. Not that I have ever sat in one or touched the exterior before,........ but I have seen one parked outside The University of Melbourne.

-The Hummer Limo-
Apparently it was rented by a couple one their wedding day and the bride and groom were having their photoshoot in the compound of The University of Melbourne.

And that RM1.00 piece of bread does not Look as nice as this sculpture outside Chadstone Shopping Centre.

Pretty nice, in my opinion, as the sun disappears out of sight.

but NOT as scenic as this:
It does not look substantial from this picture, but once you are within, it's an oasis of silence and tranquility.
-Picture: Maroondah Reservoir at Healesville, Victoria-

However, that Chadstone picture looks way nicer than this picture of a sculpture at Docklands.

Boring, I know.. can't expect much from somebody like me... but this sculpture (the right side) reminds me of the Digi Yellow Man, except that it's white.

Nevertheless, I Miss the Taste and the Smell of that RM1.00 piece of Gardenia Fruit & Nut bread and I Miss the Sight in Melbourne.

I want to go back there. I want to eat the bread again.

But I can't at this point of time when the future ahead of me is unknown, like the picture below.

What lies beyond the curve, nobody knows...
-Picture: The walking track across the dam wall, over the spillway, at Maroondah Reservoir Park-

But One day, I know I will be able to satisfy my wants because

The University of Melbourne has reminded me that there is no harm to Dream Large.

And Dream Large, I will.

Good night.
I'm off to Dream Land to Dream Large.

It's time You should start Dreaming Large too.

Best wishes and may all your dreams come through.

PS: Sucky pictures, I know. Can't expect much cos I'm not a photography pro and I have completely no skills in the field of SLR photography. Only when I lay my hands on a DSLR, may be an EOS or Sony Alpha 350 (I don't ask for much :), then you can tell me to play around with the aperture or widen it to get blur backgrounds.